The problem is, we suspect a majority of voters don't see it that way. We expect both to be voted down. But stranger things have happened.

We believe it should be difficult to impose taxes, largely because there are always people who don't want to pay them, and if they are on the short-end of the vote, they are forced to fork over their money against their will. In the real world, that's called theft.

So, we propose a way to make it absolutely certain that a tax increase will pass - and do it without forcing anyone to cough up a cent against his will.

Yes, you read that correctly.

We have devised a foolproof means of guaranteeing that tax increases will be approved on the ballot. Here's how...

Only allow people to vote who are willing to pay the tax, and of course they must vote "Yes."

In other words, a new tax or a higher tax can be approved, but only if those voting Yes are the only ones to pay it.

If you want higher taxes, you can vote Yes and pay the higher taxes.

I, of course, don't want higher taxes for all the obvious reasons. I will abstain from voting, and therefore I will be excused from paying the higher tax.

The tax increase is almost certainly guaranteed to pass with approval of 100 percent of those casting ballots.

And those casting ballots will be guaranteed to be the only people who must pay the higher tax.

There, in one brilliant stroke, we have solved the tax problem. No more obstruction by those who oppose higher taxes. No more frustration for those who want higher taxes. They can have them. And pay them.

The rest of us can abstain and save our money.

Now, this isn't a perfect solution. It won't raise as much money because anyone who doesn't want to pay the tax won't be forced to.

But we will find out whether the Warren Buffet types really think they should pay more. They can put their vote where their mouth is.

Here's a hunch. This won't catch on because those inclined to vote Yes will decide it's not fair that those not so inclined don't have to pay the tax. That, incidentally, will prove that the tax advocates really don't like the idea of taxes as much as they like the idea of forcing someone else to pay taxes.

Say, do you think this idea would pass if we started an initiative and put it on the ballot?

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{democracy:1612}

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